Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood | The Grand Rapids Press

Thank you for posting this link. I immediately contacted my interview subject who confirmed that she was convicted of felony embezzlement for stealing from a scholarship program - a fact she did not reveal when she told me she lost her job.

I'm disappointed that I was misled and that I failed to uncover the criminal information before the story went to press.

In the past, I have not made a practice of asking people about their criminal histories during craft column interviews, but that has changed.

While the conviction does not change the fact that this person is talented, it is something I would have addressed in my column had I known. I believe in second chances, but I also believe in public accountability. My apologies to my readers.